Winding device for magnetic tapes

ABSTRACT

Winding device for magnetic tapes and the like, comprising a turret mounted for pivotal or rotational movement, at least a pair of flanged reels removably supported in a symmetrical arrangement on the turret, some of the reels being coaxially stacked at a winding position, means for guiding the tape to at least one reel and for winding the tape thereon, means for laying the tape onto the reel, and for severing the tape when the reel is almost full, and means for transferring the winding from one reel to another reel, previously disposed on the turret at a location spaced apart from the winding position and constituting an exchanging position, the aforesaid means jointly including structural elements for operating the device in a continuous and optionally automatic manner, with control and drive means being incorporated for selectively operating in a coordinated manner the guiding means, laying means and transferring means, for pivoting or rotation of the turret, driving of at least one of the reels, and operation of other elements of the device.

United States Patent [191 Baumer [451 Feb. 25, 1975 WINDING DEVICE FOR MAGNETIC TAPES [76] Inventor: Horst Baumer, Auf dem P01 11. 5222 Lichtenberg, Germany 22 Filed: 0ct.l5,1973

21 Appl. NOJ 406,447

Primary Examiner-Edward J. McCarthy Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Allison C. Collard [57] ABSTRACT Winding device for magnetic tapes and the like, comprising a turret mounted for pivotal or rotational movement, at least a pair of flanged reels removably supported in a symmetrical arrangement on the turret, some of the reels being coaxially stacked at a winding position, means for guiding the tape to at least one reel and for winding the tape thereon, means for laying the tape onto the reel, and for severing the tape when the reel is almost full, and means for transferring the winding from one reel to another reel, previously disposed on the turret at a location spaced apart from the winding position and constituting an exchanging position, the aforesaid means jointly including structural elements for operating the device in a continuous and optionally automatic manner, with control and drive means being incorporated for selectively operating in a coordinated manner the guiding means, laying means and transferring means, for pivoting or rotation of the turret, driving of at least one of the reels, and operation of other elements of the device.

11 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures WINDING DEVICE FOR MAGNETIC TAPES The invention relates to rotating-type winding devices for magnetic tapes and the like, which are usually rather narrow, having a turret that receives a number of coaxially supported, removable flanged reels, the turrent being pivotable or rotatable to and between winding and exchanging position. The device also incorporates a severing and laying-on mechanism for the tape when the reel is almost full.

Such devices wind relatively narrow tapes coming from lengthwise cutting or other processing apparatus. Known severing and laying-on devices operate manually or in a semi-automatic manner. The use of the severing and laying-on mechanism in such devices usually presents the problem that the tape has to be wound on flanged reels where the distance between the flanges is smaller than the core diameter.

It is one of the objects of the invention to provide a winding device which overcomes the difficulties encountered with and the disadvantages of the known devices and allows optionally automatic operation so that tape winding can be performed continuously and at high performance rates. Economic considerations do not allow substantial manual labor to be applied to such routine operations. The invention allows to mechanize the operations involved in the winding of such tapes and consequently offers noteworthy economic advantages.

In accordance with important features of the invention, a turret is mounted for at least pivotal movement, with at least one pair of flanged reels removably supported thereon in a symmetrical arrangement, some of the reels being coaxially stacked on the turret in a known manner, at a location usually referred to as the winding position.

The invention contemplates the use of structural elements that can be summarized as constituting means for guiding the tape to at least one reel and for winding the tape thereon, means for laying the tape onto the reel, and for severing the same when the reel is almost full, means for transferring the winding from one reel to another reel, previously disposed on the turret at a location spaced apart from the winding position and constituting an exchanging position, and also control and drive means for selectively operating the earlier mentioned means in a coordinated manner, also including at least partial rotation of the turret, driving of at least one of the reels, and pivoting certain structural elements of the device.

The structural arrangement of the parts of the device make for proper guidance of severing arms which perforate the tape after it is wound up, so that these arms cannot hit the flanges of the reel being worked on. A pivotable table is provided which does not disturb the movements of the turret, while the former is in its stand-by position. In the severing position, the table guides striking levers, which carry the severing arms, into the neighborhood of the reel flanges.

The number of these levers and arms is optional so that several reels can be wound simultaneously, and several tapes severed by parallel moving arms. The latter are preferably provided with severing needles and laying-on brushes, the latter to apply the tape ends to the completed reels.

The inventive device includes a push rod with tensioning and slide blocks thereon; a powerful spring acts upon the slide block so as to impart the same considerable acceleration. As a result, the severing arms have a substantial velocity of motion right from the beginning. The motion component of the arms in the direction of the tape movement is consequently larger than that of the tape itself.

The point of the severing needle perforates the tape so that it breaks or is severed. When processing wider tapes it is of course possible to use more than one needle.

Some of the pivotal operations of the device parts are controlled by a hydraulic cylinder which may be made part of the earlier mentioned control and drive means. A pivotable table is part of this arrangement, movable toward and away from the reel being wound.

According to other useful and novel features of the invention, at least one guide roll is provided near the periphery of the turret for guiding the tape in its passage from one reel to the other before being severed by one of the severing arms.

Tape moistening means may also be incorporated, including at least one nozzle, which is directed toward an area of the reel flanges before the tape is being applied thereto. In a preferred but optional arrangement, the nozzle or nozzles may be swung toward and away from the area, close to the reel core, namely in the stand-by position of the guiding and winding means.

Portions of the device are journaled on and held by a stationary frame plate. The operation of the table is consequently made highly reliable in its spatial relation to the turret and reel arrangement.

Other objects and many of the attendant advantages will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description, when considered with the accompanying drawing, wherein FIG 1 is a somewhat schematic top plan view of a preferred, exemplary embodiment of the rotating winding device for magnetic recording tapes and the like according to the invention; and

FIG. 2 is a partly sectional view of certain operative parts, in a direction perpendicular to that of FIG. 1, with parts shown in their extended position.

In the drawing, a frame plate 1 is shown which may be constructed in a conventional manner, for supporting all stationary parts of the inventive winding device for magnetic tapes. A shaft 2 carries a rotatable winding cross or turret 3 having two protruding arms 4, each carrying one of two exemplary flanged reels 5, 6, the number of which can however be three or possibly more. In a direction perpendicular to the plane of the drawing, a plurality of reels 5 can be superimposed or stacked, as this is known from similar devices for winding recording tapes and the like. FIG. 2 schematically shows three exemplary reels 5 in a coaxially stacked arrangement.

Each arm 4 carries a guide roll 7, 8, respectively, each of the latter being operatively assigned to one of the reels 5, 6. Turret 3 is rotatable about shaft 2, the centers of reels 5, 6 moving about a turning circle 9 as can readily be visualized. In the illustration of FIG. 1, flanged reel 5 is in a winding position while reel 6 is in an exchanging position. There are also severing and stand-by positions, to be described later in more detail.

With a view not to obstruct the illustration, conventional means used for rotating turret 3 and driving reels 5, 6 are not shown herein since they do not affect the scope of the invention and will be understood by those skilled in the art.

An optional contact roll 10 cooperates with flanged reel 5 when the latter is in the winding position, roll being journaled in swinging arms 11 and provided with a counterweight 12, for guiding a magnetic recording and the like to the inventive device. To this end,

contact roll 10 has outer flanges, thereby ensuring satisfactory alignment of the tape edges during the winding process. There may of course be more than one contact roll with its associated structure The narrow magnetic tape is identified by numeral 51 and reaches the device from outside, e.g. from a lengthwise cutting or other processing apparatus. Throughout FIG. I, the direction of movement of tape 51 is shown by arrows 52.

As one of its most important features, the inventive winding device incorporates a combined severing and laying-on mechanism which is basically journaled at 13, supported in a stationary manner by frame plate 1. Journal 13 carries a pivotable table 14 which has eyeshaped portions for reaching over journal 13. Table 14 i is pivoted to a piston 16 of a hydraulic cylinder 17 by the intermediary of at least one adjusting arm (there are preferably two). Cylinder 17 itself is pivotable about a pin 18 or the like, secured to plate 1 in a conventional manner. not visible in FIG. 2.

Cylinder 17 is operable by conventional means, whereupon arms 15 are shifted toward the left-hand side. as viewed in the drawing. together with table 14 which then pivots in counterclockwise sense. The actuated position, including piston 16, is shown in broken lines. Owing to the journaling of table 14 at pivot 13, the point of connection between piston 16 and arms 15 follows a sector path as shown at 19.

The full-line illustration of FIG. 1 shows table 14 and arms 15 in the earliermentioned severing position while the end position assumed by arms 15 in the standby position is indicated by the dot-dash line 15a. An intermediate position is shown in broken lines, just before reaching the stand-by position, at which stage however a striking lever 33, to be explained hereunder in detail, has already reached its stand-by and locking position.

Pivoting table 14 carries two end supports 21,. 22 which have a push rod 23 therebetween. A slide block 24 and a tensioning block 25 are slidable along at least a portion of rod 23.]

Journal 13 carries arms 26 (see FIG. 2) which are secured against rotation by tightening screws 27. Arms 26 hold a floating pivot 28 on which rockers 29 are supported, the other ends of the rockers being pivoted to tensioning block 25. As a result of this arrangement, pivot 28 has a fixed position with respect toframe plate 1 although adjustment of pivot 28is possible by the aid of screws 27.

A powerful tension spring 30 is disposed on push rod 23 between end support 21 and slide block 24. Furthermore, an intermediate spring 31 is applied between blocks 24, 25, the latter spring being relatively short so that it does not fill up the distance between these blocks in the releasing position, just before severing of the tape, as will be explained, this position being shown in FIG. 1 in full lines. Two control levers 32 are at tached to slide block 24, which are pivotably connected with the striking or severing lever 33. The latter therein (see FIG. 1). If somewhat wider tapes are being processed, it may be necessary to use two or more of the severing needles in an adjoining arrangement. Each arm 35 furthermore carries a laying-on brush 37 which may be secured to the arm by means of a conventional i tightening mechanism as shown at 38, and the like (parts 36, 37, 38 are omitted from FIG. 2).

Table I4 pivotably carries a pawl 39 which is prestressed by a spring 40 in the releasing. direction. Pawl 39 has two profiled noses 41,42 which engage corresponding profiled surfaces of slide'block 24. A releasing lever 43 is similarly pivotably held on table 14, and it cooperates by way of a locking profile 44 with pawl 39. Releasing lever 43 is pre-stressed in the locking di rection. A lug 45 of lever 43 engages a recess of a stop plate 46, the latter being similarly pivotably carried by table 14. This plate 46 cooperates with an adjustable stop pin 47 (FIG. 1) which is held by a carrier 48 at tached to frame plate 1 (only carrier 48 being shown in FIG. 2). a

Plate 1 preferably carries a tank 49 having one or more moistening nozzles 50 thereon which do not interfere with the rotational path of the perimeters of reels 5, 6. Tank 49 may be filled with water or a suit able solution for moistening the cores of the reels before winding, and/or the already wound magnetic tapes, as is knownin the art. The nozzles may be provided with an automatic dosing arrangement, correlated with the operation of winding turret ,3, cylinder 17, and other operative elements of the inventive device.

It is also contemplated by the invention to make nozzles 50 swingable towardand away from the path of reels 5, 6, as schematically shown by a broken arrow in FIG. 1, eg about pivot points 49. During the stand-by position of the reels, the nozzles can be brought closer for more efficient operation. Electric control means may be provided, also as part of the earlier-mentioned control and drive means, to correlate the moistening step with otberphases of the operation, preferably such that the empty reel core is moistened at the exact mo- 'ment when the tape on the full reel. is severed.

It will be understood by those skilled in the art that the operationalsteps or phases of the inventive device can be correlated by electrical, electro-mechanical or even mechanical means so as to result in a continuous, semior fully automatic winding operation. Means herefore are conventional and need not be described herein.

The operation of the described rotating winding device for magnetic recording tapes according to the present invention is as follows. As mentioned before, tape 51 reaches the device from a cutting or processing apparatus, passes over roll 10 and reaches flanged reel 5 where it is wound up. During this process table 14 is in the stand-by position which is identified in FIG. 1 by the broken illustration having the numeral 14a thereat.

When reel 5 is almost fully wound, turret 3 is rotated in clockwise direction by 180 degrees so that reel 5 takes the place of reel 6, as shown (at the left-hand bottom of FIG. 1). During this pivotal or rotational movement the core surface of the empty reel is moistened from nozzles 50. Tape 51 now runs along the indicated path 51 over guide roll 7 onto the other reel 6. The appropriate roll 7 or 8 provides a constant path guidance with respect to striking lever 33.

Under conventional control action of the pivotal movement of turret 3, table 14 is brought to the fullline severing position by actuation of cylinder 17. In this position, stop plate 46 impinges upon stop pin 47. Consequently plate 46 is pivoted in clockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 1, so that releasing lever 43 is moved in a counterclockwise sense. Locking profile 44 releases pawl 39 so that the same is also pivoted in a counterclockwise sense under the effect of spring 40. Slide block 24 is thus relieved from its locking condition. Tension spring 30 expands and moves slide block 24 which, in turn, swings striking lever 33 by the intermediary of control levers 32. Since spring 30 is relatively strong, this movement occurs with a rather high acceleration so that severing arms 35 attain a rather high momentary velocity of motion.

Arms 35 are already between the flanges of reel 5 before plate 46 is released. When arms 35 are moved, the respective needles 36 impinge upon the tape, the same being completely severed upon completed perforation. The motion component of the needles in the direction of movement of the tape is larger than the velocity of motion of the tape itself so that there is no disturbance during this process. The respecive laying-on brush 37 smooths the cut tape end (actually the beginning, since it is outside on a full reel) toward the core surface of flanged reel 5 so that the winding process is continued without interruption. In FIG. 1 broken lines show the axis of one of the severing arms, this end position being identified by numeral 35a. The severed tape end continues running and is subsequently wound onto the full reel 6. The completed reels 6 are removed in the exchanging position and replaced by empty reels.

Immediately subsequent to the severing process, piston 16 of cylinder 17 is moved outwardly, thereby shifting tensioning block toward end support 21, namely by rockers 29 on push rod 23, so that striking lever 33 is pivoted back into a clockwise sense already at the beginning of the backward swinging movement. This prevents severing arms 35 from striking either of rolls 7, 8. In unison with the movement of block 24, spring is tensioned again.

At the end of the stand-by position of pivoting table 14, tensioning block 25 has advanced on rod 23 far enough to make block 24 engage profiled nose 42 of pawl 39, thereby restoring the latter to its arrested position. Consequently releasing lever 43 is turned by its restoring spring in a clockwise sense, thereby latching pawl 39. 1

Intermediate spring 31 has several functions. First, it dampens the striking or severing movement. It also leads to a fast swing-back of striking lever 33 right at the beginning of the backward swinging movement. Furthermore, spring 31 holds slide block 24 arrested in the stand-by position so that the other elements are relieved.

Stop plate 47 is adjustable by known means so that the releasing point of striking lever 33 can be precisely controlled.

It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing disclosure relates only to a preferred embodiment of the invention, and that it is intended to cover all changes and modifications of the example described which do not constitute departures from the spirit and scope of the invention.

What I claim is:

1. A winding device for magnetic tapes and the like, comprising, in combination: a turret mounted for at least pivotal movement; at least a pair of flanged reels removable supported in a symmetrical arrangement on said turret, some of said reels being coaxially stacked on said turret at a winding position; means for guiding a narrow recording tape and the like to at least one of said reels and for winding the tape thereon; means for laying the tape onto said one reel, and for severing the tape when said one reel is almost full; means for transferring the winding from said one reel to another reel, previously disposed on said turret at a location spaced apart from said winding position and constituting an exchanging position; said means jointly including a table pivoted at one end to a stationary member and movable toward and away from said one reel; the free end of said table protruding into the area of the flanges of said one reel when said means are brought into said winding position; said free end being swingable out of said area in a withdrawn, stand-by position of said means; a push rod carried on said table; a slide block slidably supported by said push rod; at least one striking and severing lever pivotably associated with said slide block, through the intermediary of control levers attached to said slide block; a pre-stressed pawl on said table for arresting said slide block; a plurality of severing arms, corresponding in number to that of said coaxially stacked reels at said winding position; a tensioning block slidably supported by said push rod; at least one rocker linking said stationary member to said tensioning block; and control and drive means for selectively operating in a coordinated manner said guiding means, said laying means and said transferring means, for at least partial rotation of said turret, driving of at least one of said reels, and pivoting of said table.

2. The winding device as defined in claim 1, further comprising at least one severing needle and a laying-on brush on each of said severing arms.

3. The winding device as defined in claim 1, wherein said control and drive means includes a hydraulic cylinder for pivoting said table, the latter being linked to a piston of said cylinder by the intermediary of at least one adjusting arm.

4. The winding device as defined in claim 1, further comprising a releasing lever pivotably held on said table and an adjustable stop pin supported by said stationary member, said releasing lever cooperating in pre-stressing said pawl in the releasing direction and in locking the same, said releasing lever cooperating with said stop pin.

5. The winding device as defined in claim I, further comprising at least one guide roll near the periphery of said turret for guiding the tape in its passage from said one reel to said other reel before being severed by one of said severing arms.

6. The winding device as defined in claim I, further comprising tape moistening means including at least one nozzle directed toward said area of the flanges of one of said reels.

7. The winding device as defined in claim 6, further comprising means for swinging said nozzle toward and away from said area of the reel flanges, close to the reel core, in said stand-by position of the guiding and wind ing means.

8. The winding device as defined in claim 1, further comprising journal means constituting said stationary member, on which said turret is mounted, spring means for tensioning said slide block, a shaft at said free end of the table for pivoting said severing lever, and a floating pivot, and wherein said at least one rocker is pivoted between said floating pivot and said tensioning hold said slide block arrested in said stand-by position. 

1. A winding device for magnetic tapes and the like, comprising, in combination: a turret mounted for at least pivotal movement; at least a pair of flanged reels removable supported in a symmetrical arrangement on said turret, some of said reels being coaxially stacked on said turret at a winding position; means for guiding a narrow recording tape and the like to at least one of said reels and for winding the tape thereon; means for laying the tape onto said one reel, and for severing the tape when said one reel is almost full; means for transferring the winding from said one reel to another reel, previously disposed on said turret at a location spaced apart from said winding position and constituting an exchanging position; said means jointly including a table pivoted at one end to a stationary member and movable toward and away from said one reel; the free end of said table protruding into the area of the flanges of said one reel when said means are brought into said winding position; said free end being swingable out of said area in a Withdrawn, stand-by position of said means; a push rod carried on said table; a slide block slidably supported by said push rod; at least one striking and severing lever pivotably associated with said slide block, through the intermediary of control levers attached to said slide block; a pre-stressed pawl on said table for arresting said slide block; a plurality of severing arms, corresponding in number to that of said coaxially stacked reels at said winding position; a tensioning block slidably supported by said push rod; at least one rocker linking said stationary member to said tensioning block; and control and drive means for selectively operating in a coordinated manner said guiding means, said laying means and said transferring means, for at least partial rotation of said turret, driving of at least one of said reels, and pivoting of said table.
 2. The winding device as defined in claim 1, further comprising at least one severing needle and a laying-on brush on each of said severing arms.
 3. The winding device as defined in claim 1, wherein said control and drive means includes a hydraulic cylinder for pivoting said table, the latter being linked to a piston of said cylinder by the intermediary of at least one adjusting arm.
 4. The winding device as defined in claim 1, further comprising a releasing lever pivotably held on said table and an adjustable stop pin supported by said stationary member, said releasing lever cooperating in pre-stressing said pawl in the releasing direction and in locking the same, said releasing lever cooperating with said stop pin.
 5. The winding device as defined in claim 1, further comprising at least one guide roll near the periphery of said turret for guiding the tape in its passage from said one reel to said other reel before being severed by one of said severing arms.
 6. The winding device as defined in claim 1, further comprising tape moistening means including at least one nozzle directed toward said area of the flanges of one of said reels.
 7. The winding device as defined in claim 6, further comprising means for swinging said nozzle toward and away from said area of the reel flanges, close to the reel core, in said stand-by position of the guiding and winding means.
 8. The winding device as defined in claim 1, further comprising journal means constituting said stationary member, on which said turret is mounted, spring means for tensioning said slide block, a shaft at said free end of the table for pivoting said severing lever, and a floating pivot, and wherein said at least one rocker is pivoted between said floating pivot and said tensioning block.
 9. The winding device as defined in claim 8, further comprising arms secured to said journal means and serving to hold said floating pivot.
 10. The winding device as defined in claim 8, further comprising end supports carried by said table, said push rod being disposed therebetween, and said spring means being provided between one of said end supports and said slide block.
 11. The winding device as defined in claim 8, further comprising an intermediate spring on said push rod, between said slide block and said tensioning block, to hold said slide block arrested in said stand-by position. 